Herbal Remedies for Diarrhea

We all know how important it is to pass stool every day, but there is too much of a good thing. Something is amiss in the digestive tract if bowel movements are soft, unformed, and liquid or more frequent than three times a day. Herbal remedies can do wonders for the digestive tract, especially diarrhea.

About Diarrhea

More often than not, diarrhea is caused by mild bouts of food-borne illness, or food poisoning. Many viruses often cause mild diarrhea as well.

Other causes of diarrhea include eating too much of a particular food, such as fresh fruit; eating foods to which one is allergic or intolerant, such as milk products; or having intestinal disorders such as colitis or irritable bowel syndrome.

If the large intestine, or colon, allows food residue to pass through quickly, moisture and nutrients do not get absorbed. Sometimes the colon will even draw water from the body to help it hastily get rid of unwanted feces. Either can leave you dehydrated and lacking important minerals.

Herbal Remedies for Diarrhea

The roots of Oregon grape and goldenseal contain berberine, an antimicrobial that may be effective against harmful food-borne bacteria, and other alkaloids. They also appear to decrease colon secretion, helping decrease diarrhea. Their immune-stimulating action will help many people who have viral diarrhea as well. These herbs are often used to treat even serious cases of diarrhea when supervised by a knowledgeable health care provider. They can be taken as tea or tincture. Blackberry roots are another good diarrhea remedy.

Bilberry also has mild antimicrobial properties, plus it is an astringent and helps to tone the muscles of the colon. Eat the berries or syrup made from them or drink an infusion from the leaves. Fresh bilberries or their close cousins, blueberries, may worsen diarrhea, but dried berries are an excellent remedy for it.

We've only scratched the surface of the herbal remedies for diarrhea. Go to the next page to learn about more options.

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This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Before engaging in any complementary medical technique, including the use of natural or herbal remedies, you should be aware that many of these techniques have not been evaluated in scientific studies. Use of these remedies in connection with over the counter or prescription medications can cause severe adverse reactions. Often, only limited information is available about their safety and effectiveness. Each state and each discipline has its own rules about whether practitioners are required to be professionally licensed. If you plan to visit a practitioner, it is recommended that you choose one who is licensed by a recognized national organization and who abides by the organization's standards. It is always best to speak with your primary health care provider before starting any new therapeutic technique.

While some people may dismiss herbal remedies, the use of botanicals is well rooted in medical practice. More than a quarter of all drugs used today contain active ingredients from herbs. Learn about herbal remedies.

Traditional Chinese medicine uses combinations of herbs, diet, acupuncture, and other therapies to treat different types of indigestion. Treatment seeks to move qi into the stomach, which stimulates digestion.